STIRLING University bounced back from a first league loss of the season in emphatic style.

Team captain Robert Pearson started the rout on the half-hour mark and the students did not look back, with seven scorers helping to put the title push back on track.

On 31 minutes a one-two between Pearson and striker Chris Geddes ended with Pearson slotting the ball easily into the net to open the scoring. Minutes later the lead was doubled when Jason Atkins latched on to a Danny Denholm cross to head over the stranded Leith keeper.

Craig Mason grabbed Stirling’s third with a bullet header to ensure a comfortable half-time lead.

There was no let-up after the restart. Michael Pentland headed in number four following a perfectly weighted delivery from defender Jack Nixon.

Geddes, having earlier struck the bar, was gifted too much space and he fired in the fifth while Leith appealed in vain for offside.

Stirling’s sixth and seventh goals followed soon after, with Nixon netting them both. The first saw him out-muscle the weary Leith defence to nod in a Mason flick-on. Then he smashed home from close range after fellow defender James Drummond skilfully dummied a low cross.

Leith picked up their game for the last 10 minutes but the final word went to the home side once more as Geddes sprung the offside trap. His shot was parried by the Leith keeper but substitute Stephen Hoyle was on hand to tap in the rebound.

Head coach Alan Taylor said: “The players have worked exceptionally hard in training and that transferred on to the pitch. I’m delighted with the way the boys applied themselves and the fact they took the chances when they came.

“It was a good way to recover from the result last week and it puts us back on the right track.”